“Although we want to respond quickly, we want to respond right first,” said Forson.

The district has grown by more than 1,600 students this school year.

That’s about a school-and-a-half worth of students.

Although a new elementary school opened this year and two new K-8 schools are set to open next year, Forson said the district will need 20 new schools in the next 10 years -- and teachers to fill them.

“It is a stressor, so I won’t tell you that it’s not a stressor to the organization. It is. But I am confident that we will keep up,” said Forson.

Duval County Public Schools is more than three times larger than St. Johns.

As of Aug. 1, DCPS had 174 teacher and instructional support vacancies.